Love is a feeling that is different for everyone. They know what love means to them, but words seem to fail when trying to describe it. Love is also something that takes many different forms depending on the situation. 

Love might be coming home to see your pet dog, talking to that cute guy that works at the local coffee shop or it might just be eating really good mac and cheese at 2 a.m. No matter the context, music is one way we can communicate our emotions to large bodies of people, and love is no exception. Because (like love) music must be felt to be understood. 

According to a study by the dating site Plenty of Fish, women who listened to classic rock were 68% more likely to match with a potential partner. It’s clear that there is a distinct connection between romance and rock and roll. Rock and roll has deep roots in American culture. 

Rock music today is hard to pin down with a distinct sound. Originally conceived through the expansion of jazz music in the 1930s and 1940s, rock and roll music first took form in the 1950s and quickly exploded onto the scene thanks to teenage heartthrobs like Elvis Presley, Bobby Darin and Ricky Nelson. 

This new explosive genre was starkly different than the traditional jazz and blues that dominated the charts since the invention of the radio. Rock and roll, like rap today, was privy to a lot of scrutiny by parents because of its tongue-in-cheek sexual lyrics and connotations to juvenile delinquency. 

At this point, rock became more than just music. It became the message that the young would never feel ashamed of how they felt, especially towards each other. More than ever, raw human emotion was being put into each note and each strum of the guitar. As rock continued to thrive into the 60s and through the 70s, the genre was swept with different styles and tastes with each new generation. The spirit of rock, however, never changed. 

In this playlist, I have highlighted some of the crème de le crème of rock music through the ages all the while keeping it all about what it was made for: love.

Here are some highlights:

“Come Go with Me” by the Del Vikings 

Ranked no. 449 on “Rolling Stone” magazines “500 Greatest Songs of All Time” list, this doo-wop piece was released in 1956 and peaked at no. 4 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in its heyday. 

“I Saw Her Standing There” by The Beatles 

Widely considered to be the most famous band in modern history, The Beatles released this classic early in their career in 1963 and performed this song on their first two appearances on “The Ed Sullivan Show.” This was a huge deal at the time due to the show’s large following. These appearances helped kickstart the band’s career and made them a household name. 

“Gimme All Your Lovin’” by ZZ Top

This song was their first single from their Eliminator album, which went Diamond when it was released. This song brought ZZ Top a new sound, and was the first single they used synthesizers in. This new sound brought them massive commercial success and became widely successful on MTV. 

“I’ll Have to Say I Love You in A Song” by Jim Croce

Originally working as a truck driver and playing guitar at bars on the side, this single was released on his second ever album “I Got A Name.” Unfortunately, a few weeks before the songs release, Croce was killed in a small plane crash. After his death, Croce’s music became a massive success and helped redefine the folk-rock genre.

“The Power of Love” by Huey Lewis and The News

This song was written shortly after front man, Huey Lewis, married and had two kids. This song was created for the 1985 blockbuster, “Back to the Future,” as Huey Lewis and The News were an up-and-coming band with a modern sound. 

“Fell In Love With A Girl” by The White Stripes

Arguably best known for their globe-spanning hit “Seven Nation Army”, the White Stripes released this single in 2001. It discusses the craziness behind love and lust. The music video for this song is also considered one of the most innovative of its kind, as every frame is made out of Lego bricks and features no digital effects. 

Listen to the whole playlist here, https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4J1LMBPB53aWwrSTT2bdD7?si=79040425a8564411 or scan the code below.

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